The vulnerable student had worked hard for five years to secure a place studying history and politics at Newcastle University against the odds and was finally enjoying some independence.

But as he made his way slowly back to his digs on Valentine’s Day, the 19-year-old was cruelly targeted by despicable Martin Tokar.

The 18-year-old stalked him through the streets before barging into terrified Alex from behind and threatening to put a gun to his head.

Unable to run away or fight back and scared for his life, Alex had no choice but to agree to the robber’s demand to hand over his £600 phone.

Martin Tokar, jailed for robberies in Newcastle city centre

A court heard the attack has had a devastating impact on Alex, who is now scared to go out, is on anxiety medication, has had to move back with his parents and has lost his much treasured and hard-won independence.

Now Tokar, snared after a Crimewatch appeal and who went on to target another student in a similar way just weeks later, has been locked up at Newcastle Crown Court.

Alex said in a statement read to the court: “When he approached me I knew I would not be able to get away from him and I didn’t think I could defend myself.

“I’m still upset by this incident and I think about it a lot.

“I’ve no doubt he targeted me because of my disability and it’s knocked my confidence.

“It took me a long time to build up my confidence to go to university and this could have ended my lifelong ambition to go university. I worked incredibly hard for five years to overcome a number of obstacles.

“My confidence and self esteem were high because of my newly found independence and all of this was taken away from me by one man.

Alex Nicklen pictured with his parents April and Ian at home in Ellington Northumberland, Alex was robbed whilst walking back from college

“This robbery has affected me in so many ways and crushed my confidence and in the weeks afterwards I felt vulnerable and anxious in the city centre.

“I made the very hard decision to move back to my parents’ house outside Newcastle. I still attend university but my mother drives me to and from university and this has left me with no real independence.

“Since the robbery I do not go out alone because on the few occasions I tried to do so, I felt very anxious and afraid and was constantly looking behind me.

“I was always aware I could be viewed as an easy target by criminals and it scares me I could be targeted again because of my disability.”

The court heard Alex, who was in his first year at Newcastle University, is registered disabled and his spina bifida affects his mobility, posture, concentration and the way he walks and he becomes tired very quickly.

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Prosecutor Neil Pallister said: “The Crown say it would have been obvious because of his disability he was a vulnerable person.”

Alex, from Ellington, Northumberland, had been out in Newcastle celebrating Chinese New Year on Sunday February 14 and was making his way back to the university campus alone after saying goodbye to his friends when he was targeted.

The court heard he was holding his iPhone in his hand as he walked along Percy Street towards the Haymarket.

Mr Pallister said: “Mr Nicklen describes the walk back to his student flat was quite a long distance from where he started.

“Five minutes into the journey he began to feel tired.

“He began to slow down and walk at a very slow pace. He sent his mother a text saying he was tired but heading home - he was living independently in student accommodation.

“At that point he became so tired his walking was restricted and slowed to a shuffling pace. His posture also suffered, he was hunched forward with both legs bent slightly inwards.

“It would be obvious to anyone he was disabled and vulnerable.”

The court heard it took Alex about 20 minutes to get back to the campus and he then realised he was being stalked.

Mr Pallister said: “He became aware of someone following him as he walked towards Claremont Road.

“A man approached him from behind and barged into him and said in a calm manner ‘Give me your ******* phone or I will put a gun to your head’.

“He froze with shock and disbelief. He didn’t see a gun and didn’t think he had a gun but was still fearful for his safety.

“He didn’t know what he was capable of so he handed over his mobile phone. The defendant then demanded his pin number for the phone and he gave him it.

“The man then walked away leaving him feeling stunned and shocked.

“For a significant period of time the attacker had followed and, for want of a better word, stalked the victim before he committed the robbery.”

CCTV of the attacker was circulated and after an appeal on the Crimewatch Roadshow it emerged Tokar had sold Alex’s phone on and detectives arrested him on July 20.

In the meantime he had also robbed a 25-year-old female Thai student on Barrack Road, near St James’ Park, on Sunday April 3. Like with Alex, he followed her and approached her from behind, this time grabbing her bag and its contents, worth a total of £1,425, and leaving her terrified.

After initially denying responsibility for the robberies, he finally admitted what he had done was “horrible”, said he deserved to go to jail and blamed his £40 a week cannabis habit.

Tokar, of Whittington Grove, Fenham, Newcastle, admitted two counts of robbery and was sent to a young offenders institute for three-and-a-half years.

Judge Tim Gittins said of the offence against Alex: “It’s clear you had stalked your prey for some time.

“It’s clear you targeted him as an easy target because of his disability.

“Any person, let alone a disabled person, is entitled and should expect to feel safe in this city when walking about the streets doing their day to day activities and the courts will act to ensure acts such as your robbery are punished accordingly.

“The victim was extremely vulnerable and obviously so and the psychological effects on him have been serious and significant and he is no longer as independent as he was.”

Judge Gittins added: “This case is a warning lesson to those that say cannabis is not a harmful drug.”

Ian West, defending, said Tokar has no previous convictions and has recently stopped smoking cannabis and no longer associates with those he was at the time.

He added: “There was no physical harm and he has demonstrated remorse and a degree of self loathing for committing the offences.

“The drug problem is at the root of his offending.”

After the case, Alex said: “I feel Justice has been served. I think the judge and court sent a strong message that if you target the weakest members of society, you will face a strong punishment.”

DC Shaun Fordy, of the North East Regional Special Operations Unit, added: “The robberies committed by Martin Tokar were despicable attacks on victims which he considered to be vulnerable and easy targets.

“Crimes like these are rare in the City of Newcastle and every effort was made to identify and arrest Tokar.

“I welcome the sentence passed by the court which should send a clear message to those criminals who think it is acceptable to target vulnerable members of our communities. I also wish to commend the courage of the victims and the assistance provided by the public.”